Be Kind to Koreans Today

Gov. Jerry Brown met with South Korean President Park Geun-hye in Los Angeles May 9, issuing a “Korea-California Friendship Day” proclamation to commemorate the event. The press release from the Demoratic governor commemorating the commemorative proclamation is silent as to the South Korean president’s reaction.

The proclamation in full:

WHEREAS, California is home to over 450,000 Korean-Americans, many of whom are among our most prominent and accomplished citizens; and

WHEREAS, among the 50 states California is the Republic of Korea’s foremost trading partner and Korea is California’s fifth largest export market; and

WHEREAS, the Republic of Korea and California exchange billions of dollars in goods and services each year, including nearly $1 billion spent by Korean visitors to the Golden State; and

WHEREAS, the Republic of Korea and California share great strengths in technological innovation and strong ties among our research institutions and high-tech firms; and

WHEREAS, the Republic of Korea and California share a creative and entrepreneurial spirit reflected in our world-renowned motion picture and animation industries; and

WHEREAS, Korean language, food, arts and customs have secured a distinct and permanent place in California’s rich tapestry of cultures; and

WHEREAS, the bonds of cooperation and loyalty between our peoples grow each day and with them the promise of a more dynamic and sustainable future;

NOW THEREFORE I, EDMUND G. BROWN JR., Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim May 9, 2013, as “Korea-California Friendship Day.”